Improvement in car-couplings



pi? 5 .lo J n Ew w I V` .m m YU nn n m nu H W BLU. w nn 0 M ...L nw m. .l m, v ...a A* w 9. 9 m 3, ,9 JM. 0. N. Wl

UNITED STATES PATENT FFGE.

VALENTIN ERBACH, OF HYDE PARK, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 59,399, dated February 2, 1875; application iled September 8, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, VALENTlN ERBAGH, of Hyde Park, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Gar-Coupling; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the draw-head of my improved car-coupling, showing the position the coupling-hook occupies when the cars are uncoupled. Figs. 2 and 3 are similar Views, showing the position of the coupling hook when the cars are coupled, and the position of the link for cars of the same or different heights; and Fig. 4 is an end view of the draw-head and coupling hook and its securing-pin.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawings denote the same parts.

My invention relates to improvements in car couplings; and consists in the employment of a curved hook, provided with recesses and hung on abolt passing through the drawhead, and a peculiarly-formed slot in the hook, the link striking the hook in coupling the cars, and moving it into a vertical position `surrounded by the link, the latter, when coupled, resting in one or other of the recesses in the hook, dependent on the height of the cars. A pin passing through a groove in the lower face of the draw-head and a perforation in the hook is employed to secure the latter in place.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a draw-head, provided with the ordinary flaring mouth, and having slots B B on its upper and lower faces for the reception of a curved hook, C, provided with a peculiarlyformed slot, s, plainly shown in the drawings, through which passes the headed bolt b, which also pass/es through the draw-head, and is provided on the end opposite the head with a nut or split key, thus securely attaching the bolt to the draw-head, while at the same time the bolt can readily be removed when desired. a c are notches or recesses in the hook for the reception of the link, the latter occupying one or other of the said recesses When the cars are coupled, dependent on their height. cis a chain, attached at one end to the curved hook, and having a pin, p, secured to its opposite end. g g are grooves in the lower face of the draw-head for the reception of the'pin p, to secure the hook in place when the cars are coupled. cl is a depression (see Fig. 3) made across the draw-head for the reception of the link when the cars to be coupled are of different heights, and it isnecessary that the link should make an upward angle to engage with the hook of the adjacent car. The hook (l, when the cars are uncoupled, occupies the position shown in Fig. 1.

When it is desired to couple the cars, the link attached to the hook of the adjacent car is made to enter the flaring mouth of the draw-head A, and, striking the hook G hung on the bolt b, turns the former over an arc of ninety degrees, or to a vertical position, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. If the cars are of the same height, the link l rests in the recess a of the hook, the end of the latter projecting beyond the depression d in the draw-head, and the link occupying a horizontal position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. h2. llhe pin 19 is then inserted in the groove g', on the under face ofthe draw-head, and the cars are thus securely coupled.

In case the car to which the draw-head A is attached is higher than the adjacent one to which it is to be coupled, the link l then engages With the recess or notch a of the hook, the securing-pin p still occupying its position in the groove g', the link making a downward angle, as shown in full lines, in Fig. 2.

In case the car to which the draw-head A is attached is lower than the adjacent car, the link l is then made to en gage with the recess or notch c 1n the hook, the end of the link resting also in the depression d in the lower interior face of the draw-head, and the securing-pin p is inserted in the groove g in the lower face of the draw-head, the link forming an upward angle with the draw-head, as seen in Fig. 3.

The hook may also be retained in position when the cars-are coupled by inserting the securing-pin p in the perforation o (see Fig. 1)l

removed, and by means of the chain c attached The draw-head A, having the slots B B and to the hook7 the latter is moved in the slots B grooves g g', in combination with the curved B in the draw-head over` an arc of ninety dehook C and securing-pin p, substantiallyA as grecs, so that it Will occupy the position shown and for the purpose set forth.

in Fig. 1.

It is obvious from this construction that the VALENTIN ERBACH. link and hook will form a coupling Whether Witnesses: the cars are of the same or different heights. D. M. JONES,

I claim as my invention- JOHN FERN. 

